Marcy Woodruff, co-chair of our Humanists in Action team, presented HumanistsMN’s first Religious Freedom Champions Award to Sen. John Marty at a dinner at the Minnesota Humanities Center on Jan. 17.
Following is a text of Marcy’s remarks.
I am honored to introduce a true religious freedom champion. Sen. John Marty has been a Minnesota senator since 1986 – almost 40 years! His tenure shows the tremendous confidence of his constituents in the northern suburbs of St. Paul.
Sen. Marty has done much to progress the rights of Minnesotans: for example, advocating for social and economic justice, healthcare for all, our environment, and LGBTQIA+ rights. His list of accomplishments is quite impressive and we’re all better for them.
Tonight, we want to acknowledge Sen. Marty’s powerful actions and vital commitment to our country’s foundational principle of separation of religion and government.
In the last three legislative sessions, Sen. Marty has introduced a Senate resolution recognizing Jan. 16 as “Religious Freedom Day” in Minnesota. He was concerned about proposed legislation to post “In God We Trust” in our public schools. He said that by commemorating Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, “we remember the importance of religious liberty for all – people of any religious faith and people with none.”
While these resolutions did not become official, Sen. Marty’s outspoken advocacy is a testament to his dedication to religious freedom.
In 2022, Sen. Marty, partnering with like-minded legislators in the Minnesota House of Representatives, was instrumental in the creation of a Secular Government Caucus. This caucus was formed in part as a response to the rise in Christian nationalism that has made some politicians think it’s okay to impose their personal religious beliefs on others. Sen. Marty is a co-chair of this important legislative caucus.
He has also appeared on Fox News “debating” religious freedom and was recently featured in the fantastic documentary “Bad Faith,” a film exposing the dangers of Christian nationalism.
Sen. Marty is a person with deeply held religious beliefs who wholeheartedly believes in true religious freedom for all. We are incredibly appreciative of his tenacity; of his fierce, active support of the separation of religion and government. We are so very grateful for all he does to protect this most precious and fundamental freedom.
Please join me in welcoming – and thanking – the recipient of our inaugural Religious Freedom Champions Award, Sen. John Marty!
Related: HMN Forum Explores the True Meaning of Religious Freedom
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